spivey



W. R. SPIVEY ELECTRIC CHAIN CLIPPERS March 17, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1962 fll INVENTOR.

WARREN R. SPIVEY W FIG.3

ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 w s Y 3,125,658 7 ELECTRIC CHAIN CLIPPERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1962 5| 6| 40 as as 37 50 s i he v I I I 56 5a 55 38 FIG. 6

57/ 47 INVENTOR.

FIG. 7

WARREN R. SP IVEY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,125,658 ELECTRIC CHAIN 'CLIPPERS Warren R. Spivey, Marvell, Ark. Filed Feb. 21, 1962, SenNo. 174,865 Clahns. (Cl. 219-19) This invention relates in general to thread-cutting devices and, more particularly, to a device for severing the connecting filament of a synthetic thread between s'uccessively seamed articles such as socks and fusing the severed portion into a non-raveling end.

In the manufacture of inexpensive articles of apparel and similar sewn materials, such as childrens socks, for example, the articles are successively seamed by a sewing machine and are connected by a thin continuous filament or chain of synthetic fiber. As a part of the finishing operation it is necessary to "sever this cord or socalled thread-chain by means of a scissors or knife and quickly knot or otherwise secure the severed end to the body of the sock in order to prevent unraveling thereof. Such cutting and knotting operations, of course, materially increases the cost of the article.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the presentinvention to provide a device for automatically separating the continuous cord or so-called thread-chain connecting socks successively stitched or seamed on a sewing machine.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device of the type stated which is capable of severing thread-chains and similar filaments in a quick and efiicient manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of the type stated which can be readily attached to, or assembled in operative relationship upon a conventional sewing machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electric cha'in clipper of the type stated which is economical in cost, in maintenance, and in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets)- FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a sock sewing machine with the electric thread-chain clipper forming part of the present invention incorporated there- 1n;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a chain clipper constructed inacco'rdance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 6-6"of FIGJS'; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuitry forming part of the present invention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a sewing machine of the sock-seaming type having an outer housing 1 consisting of a front wall 2 and a rear wall 3 that are connected by two spaced parallel end walls 4, 5, and a somewhat semi-circular top wall 6. The sewing machine A is mounted on a table top 7 which is provided with downwardly extending legs 8 on its underside. The sewing machine A is conventional and, therefore, not illustrated nor described in detail.

However, in common with most sewing machines, the

3,125,658 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 2 sewing machine A is provided with a bobbin chamber 9 located beneath the needle plate 10 and extending interiorly of the end wall 4, generally comprising spaced parallel side walls 11, 12, that are connected at their left transverse margins by an end wall 13. As can be seen by reference to FIG. 2, the bobbin chamber 9 opens upwardly through a relatively large rectangular aperture 14 which extends rearwardly from the needle 15 and presser-foot 16. Rigidly secured to the end wall 4 within the chamber 9 and in downwardly spaced relation to the aperture 14 is an outwardly extending frame-eleinent 17 and mounted thereon by screws 18 is an upwardly extending support bracket 19 which is integrally formed with a horizontal flange 20 disposed lengthwise across the aperture 14. Seated securely in and extending upwardly from the flange 20 is a relatively c'oarse pitch guard-spiral 21 constructed of heavy-gauge wire so that the convolutions thereof are spaced apart. Mounted in and extending coaxially through the spiral-guard 21 is a single strand of high resistance wire 22. The wire 22 is securely soldered at one end to the flange 20 and at its other end to an electrically conductive arm or blade 23 which is rigidly mounted on the bracket 19 by means of dielectric insulators 24. Mounted on the bracket 19 by means of a clamp- 25 is a pair of electric conductors 26, 27, the conductor 26 being electrically connected at one end to the arm 23, and the conductor 27 terminating in an eyelet 28 which is then structurally attached and electrically grounded to the flange 20 by means of a screw 29. The other ends of the conductors 26, 27, suitably terminate in a connector c which includes a plug 30 and concentric external connector sleeve 31.

Mounted within the side wall 12 and communicating with the chamber 9 is a hollow tube t, the end of which terminates within the chamber 9 and is polished to a smooth finish internally and externally for preventing an accumulation of thread thereon. The tube t is also rigidly secured to the internal end wall 13 of the sewing machine base by means of a clamp 32. Threadedly connected to the outer end of the tube t is a flexible rubber air line 33 which is, in turn, connected at its other end to the inlet of a vacuum tank 34 having a suitable suction fan 35. The tank 34 and suction fan 35 are conventional and, therefore, are not described nor illustrated in detail.

Mounted on the under surface of the table top 7 is a control box 36 which generally comprises a rectangular sheet metal housing '37 and which includes a front wall 38, a rear wall 39, and a bottom wall 40, the front and rear walls 38, 39, being connected at their transverse ends by opposed parallel side walls 41, 42,which terminate at their upper margins in laterally projecting flanges 43, 44, respectively by which the housing 37 may be secured to the underside of the table top 7. A power transformer 45 having a primary winding 46 and a secondary winding 47 enclosed within a metal frame 48 which is provided with depending flanges 49 is secured to the side wall 42 by means of screws 50. Suitably mounted on the rear wall 39 is a rheostat 51 having aterminal 52 and a shaft 53 which projects through said rear wall 39 and is provided on its external endwith a knob 54. Similarly mounted on the front wall 38 are a toggle-switch 55, a fuse receptacle 56 provided with a replaceable fuse 57, and a pilot light 58. Suitably mounted in and extending through the side wall 41 is a jack or plug receptacle 59 that is designed to accommodate the plug 30.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, one terminal of the primary winding 46 is in series through the toggle-switch 55 and the other terminal is connected in series through the fuse 57, to a two-wire conductor or cord set 60 which extends through a grommet 61 set into the rear wall 39. At its remote end the cord set 60 is provided with a conventional plug 62 by which it may be connected to a suitable source of electrical power, and the primary winding 46 energized when the switch 55 is closed. The pilot light 58 and resistance wire 22 are connected in parallel across the secondary of the transformer 45 and the rheostat 51 is connected in series between one terminal of the transformer secondary and one terminal of the resistance wire 22.

In use, the suction fan 35 is turned on in order to produce a continuous stream of air flowing through the aperture 14 into the chamber 9, and through the flexible air line 33 into the tank 34. The plug 62 is connected to any conventional 110 volt receptacle and the switch 55 is closed, thereby energizing the primary winding 46 of the transformer 45. The resultant flux produced in the primary winding 46 will induce a voltage and current in the secondary coil 47 thereby lighting up the pilot light 58. As there is a continuous stream of fairly rapidly moving air in the hollow tube t and air line 33, there will be a constant influx of air through the aperture 14 and around the hot wire 22. Since the plug 30 is inserted into the jack 63 the wire 22 will be connected across the secondary winding 47 of transformer 45 and with the rheostat 51, whereby the voltage supplied to the hot wire 22 can be varied. As the socks are successively seamed by the sewing machine A, they are passed over the aperture 14. The constant stream of air passing through the aperture 14 into the chamber 9 provides a positive-force urging the continuous cord or thread-chain into contact with the hot wire 22 through one of the convolutions in the guard 21, and the wire 22 burns through or, severs the continuous thread-chain from the socks. The excess material or debris from the burning is carried by the stream of air through the air line 33 and into the thread accumulator tank 34. As the continuous cord or thread-chain is usually nylon or rayon the small portion of the cord or thread-chain remaining on the sock is welded into a non-raveling end. It is to be noted that the spiral-guard 21 prevents the body of the sock or hands or clothing of the operator from coming into contact with the hot Wire 22.

If desired, the rheostat can be turned to direct contact across the terminal 52 thereby delivering fuel voltage to the wire 22 in order to elevate its temperature and burn oif any accumulation of yarn or knitted fabric that may have become deposited upon the wire 22 during normal severing operations.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the chain clipper can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature or principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A device for clipping a chain seam, said device including support means having a single line of small apertures, a loosely convoluted spring threaded through v said apertures so that the spring is secured to the sup- ,2. A device for clipping a chain seam, said device inmeans and having an enlarged aperture,

cluding support means having a single line of small apertures, a loosely convoluted spring threaded through said apertures so that the spring is secured to the support means at a plurality of points which lie in a single vertical plane, an electric resistance Wire extending coaxially through the spring, means for energizing said re- ;slstance wire, and current controlling means connected 111 series with the resistance wire.

3. A device for clipping a chain seam, said device in eluding support means having a single line of small aper- Itures, a loosely convoluted spring threaded through said apertures so that the spring is secured to the support means at a plurality of points which lie in a single vertical plane, an electric resistance wire extending coaxially through the spring, means for energizing said resistance wire, and rheostat means connected in series with the reslstance wire.

v4. device for clipping a chain seam, said device .including support means having a plurality of small aper- .IIUIGS, a loosely convoluted spring threaded through said apertures, an enclosed chamber mounted on said support means and having an enlarged aperture, an electric resistance wire extending coaxially through the spring and across the enlarged aperture of said chamber, means for energizing said resistance Wire, .a large volume of air through said convoluted spring in a dnection to bring the chain seam into contact with said electric resistance wire, said last-named means includlng a tubular element which extends into said chamber for drawing said large volume of air across said electric resistance wire, said tubular element terminating in close proximity to said electric resistance wire, whereby said chain seam may be clipped and the excess clipped material carried away.

5. A device for clipping a chain seam, said device includmg support means having a plurality of small apertures, a loosely convoluted spring threaded through said apertures, an enclosed chamber mounted on said support an electric resistance Wire extending coaxially through the spring and across the enlarged aperture of said chamber, means for energizing ,said resistance wire, and means for passing a large volume of air through said convoluted spring in .a direction to bring the chain seam into contact with said electric resistance wire, said last-named means including a tubular element which extends into said chamber for drawing said large volume of air across said electric resistance wire, said tubular element terminating at a .point ad acent to said electric resistance wire, whereby said chain seam may be clipped and the excess clipped material carried away.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080,784 Pool May 18, 1937 2,471,019 Baker May 24, 1949 2,491,708 Bradley Dec. 20, 1949 2,713,109 'Elstad July 12, 1955 2,727,132 Hills Dec. 13, 1955 2,972,669 Brown Feb. 21, 1961 3,050,609 Brackin et al Aug. 21, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 503,735 Germany June 23, 1929 and means for passing 

1. A DEVICE FOR CLIPPING A CHAIN SEAM, SAID DEVICE INCLUDING SUPPORT MEANS HAVING A SINGLE LINE OF SMALL APERTURES, A LOOSELY CONVOLUTED SPRING THREADED THROUGH SAID APERTURES SO THAT THE SPRING IS SECURED TO THE SUPPORT MEANS AT A PLURALITY OF POINTS WHICH LIE IN A SINGLE VERTICAL PLANE, AN ELECTRIC RESISTANCE WIRE EXTENDING COAXIALLY THROUGH THE SPRING, AND MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID RESISTANCE WIRE. 